ey's

stark contrast to the gentleness of his touch. The warmth spread

growl meant only for me. "Answer m

, for the first time, completely honest. "I'm not here to meet him,

froze. Of all the answers he might ha

girl everyone dismissed as a weak,

to this pack. He has hurt our people. I was a fool to ever listen to him

Keaton didn't pull away. If anything, he se

ng me, for the first time. Not the petulant girl who argued o

sent a jolt through me, a spark of connection I had denied for so long. I looked up at

One moment we were discussing death, the next, the

not yet. Because

ening my grip on his hand. "I want to be your Lun

hythm through our joined hands. This was everything he had ever

respond, a saccharine voi

u two doing over here? Every

picture of innocent concern, using his first name

or what it was: a subtle claim, a way of showing everyone how close she was to the Alph

's brow. He was annoye

ol. "Miss Moreno, you will address him as Alpha Sexton. U

widening in disbelief. I had nev

g else in his eyes, too-a flash of intense pleasu

e of hurt. Her eyes welled up with crocodile tears.

you," I said, my tone unwavering. "In public, th

astise me for rudeness. He ignored her completely, his attention solely on me, a fa

ow. She took a shaky breath, voice filled with feigned reluctance. "Hailey, I

's attention. H

playing on my lips. Go on,

xton, I... I heard her with my own ears. She made plans with someone.

shattered. The air turned frigid again. Keaton's eyes, which had just started to soften, ha

ers trembling as if it pained he

felt a thrill. She had no idea what she had just done. She